Support assembly for a perforated board



Dec. 29, 1964 J. F. NELSON SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR A PERFORATED BOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! Filed Jan. 5, 1963 R w O E O 6 V S 8 m L 6 8 N V F w m 2 M m 0 4 O O 2 5 7 7 7J 3 4 A 4 6 6 5 V M Q 1% O 2 3 6 fly 12/0 2 w \e M R w w J 4 W n W. 5 m M w F 6 4 ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1964 J. F. NELSON 3,163,132

SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR A PERFORATED BOARD Filed Jan. 3, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5 FIG.6 FIG-7 20a FIG -|3 INVENTOR.

JOHN F. NELSON ATTOR N EY United States Patent ()fiice 3,l53,l32 Patented Dec. 29, 1964 3,163,132 SUPPGRT ASSEMBLY FUR A PERFORATED BOARD John F. Nelson, Des Plaines, Ill., assiguor to Illinois Tool Works Inc, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 249,281 13 Claims. (Cl. 1fi8l52) This invention relates in general to a support assembly for a perforated board and more particularly relates to a snap-on shelf asembly for quick attachment to support panels having regularly spaced holes therein.

Perforated support boards have come into wider and wider use in commerce and in the home since the regularly spaced perforations therein provide convenient apertures for mounting various support devices. The prior art devices for providing a shelf suport have suffered various disabilities such as, for example, instability in the horizontal plane, instability in the upward direction, cumbersomeness, as well as lack of aesthetic appeal.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a shelf support assembly for conventional peg board or the like which is operable to overcome the aforenoted prior art disadvantages and is quickly and easily assembled to a perforated panel board.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a shelf support assembly of the aforenoted character'which is stable in vertical and horizontal planes, as well as exhibiting good rack strength.

It is an object of this invention to provide a shelf support assembly which quickly snaps on to a panel board said assembly being made entirely of plastic to eliminate slivers or sharp edges such as are associated with Wooden or metal shelf assemblies.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shelf support assembly of the aforenoted character which has a smooth planar top surface with a raised integral forward lip edge which is adapted to retain objects on the shelf to compensate for deviations from true vertical of the support panel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shelf support which interfits with two angle braces, the latter interlocking with the shelf without rivets, screws or other separate fasteners.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an assembly comprising a shelf member and angle brace members wherein the shelf member as well as the angle brace member are attached to the perforated support board in a quick attachable-detachable stable manner.

It is another object of this invention to provide a plastic assembly comprising a shelf member and a pair of identical angle braces which interfit with the shelf member, the latter being symmetrical about the transverse axis thereof wherein the shelf member and the support members are easy to mold in conventional injection molding apparatus, no side action press molding being necessary.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a shelf assembly which is economical, strong per unit weight of plastic, and aesthetically pleasing in assembled and unassembled relationships.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shelf assembly of the aforenoted character which is characterized as having a progressively stronger longitudinal center strut which distributes the stresses near the outboard edges to the interiorly located supporting structure, and is further characterized as having thickened rim areas and a recessed interfitting support receptacle which is hidden from view when the shelf and the braces are in assembled relationship.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a molded plastic shelf support and angle braces which has an absence of sharp corners to thereby prevent injury to eyes and hands on accidental engagement therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plastic shelf support of the type aforedescribed which is well adapted for mass manufacture utilizing well known mass production techniques, is efiicacious for its intended purpose over a wide range of humidity and temperature conditions, will not rust or corrode, and is otherwise well designed for its intended purpose.

The novel features that are characteristic of the invention \are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shelf and the braces in assembled relation, the assembly being shown in detached relation relative to a panel;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the underside of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view showing the assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 attached to a panel board;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the shelf portion of the assembly shown in detached relation;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the shelf taken along lines 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a top. plan view of the angle brace shown in detached relation;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the angle brace shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along lines 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a partial plan bottom view of an alternate embodiment of shelf, said shelf being symmetrical about the center line thereof;

FIG. 11 is a view of an alternate form of angle brace adapted to be associated with the shelf shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the braceshown in FIG. 11 attached to the shelf shown in FIG. 10, said shelf being shown in fragmentary sectional view;

FIG. 13 is a partial fragmentary sectional view indicating an interlocking of a shelf and an angle support of still another embodiment of the invention;

- FIG. 14 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 7 of an alternate form of angle brace;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the angle brace shown in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a View similar to FIG. 12 showing the coopeartion of the brace of FIGS. 14 and 15 with a fragmentary section of a shelf.

The completed assembly 18 shown in FIG. 3 comprises a shelf member means 20, a pair of angle support member means 76 and a perforated panel means or support member 34 having regularly spaced apertures 36 therein. The panel 34 may be of conventional pressed wood variety sold under the trade name Peg Board or may be of other suitable material such as wood, plastic, metal or the like. The shelf member 20 and the angle braces 76 preferably are formed of molded plastic. One thermoplastic material which is especially suitable is sold under the trade name Delrin since it exhibits very desirable strength and durability characteristics over a wide range of temperatures and a wide range of humidity. Plastic materials such as nylon, polystyrene, etc., prove adequate under certain restricted ranges of temperature and humidity and may be used if the environmental-use of the assembly falls within these restricted ranges. V

The shelf member 20, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and FIGS. 1-3, has a top planar surface 22 and a panel engaging back edge 24. Gppositely disposed to edge 24 is front edge 26 having a raised lip 28 integral therewith which projects a slight distance above the plane of surface 22.

A pair of hook supports 30 and 32 are molded iritegral= ly into the shelf member 26 on the panel engaging edge 24 and project laterally outwardly therefrom. The hooks 3i) and 32 are spaced from each other so as to be insertable within spaced apertures 36 of the panel board 34, it being preferred that they be spaced from each other a symmetrical distance around the transverse center line of the shelf member 20 so as to engage apertures spaced as shown in FIG. 3. The hooks 3t] and 32 are each formed with a laterally extending portion 38 and an upturned portion 49 which locks in behind the panel board where they are inserted as shown in FIG. 3.

As perhaps best shown in FIG. 2, the main portion of the shelf is rather thin as shown at 42, the side edges surrounding the shelf member 2% being thickened as shown at 44 to provide a strengthened edge surface. The corners are preferably rounded as shown at 46. Symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the transverse center line of shelf member 20 are two pairs of transverse ribs lb-t? and 52-54, said ribs preferably extending outwardly from surface 42 the same dimension as the side edges 44. 'A pair-of short edge webs 45 and 47 integrally connect the front edge between the spaced ribs 48-58, and 52-54, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 whereas the rear edge is not similarly formed. A center transverse rib 56 is preferably located on the center line and is parallel with ribs 48-50 and 52-54 and integrally connects with the extending back and front edges. A longitudinal strut member 53 has its greatest depth where it traverses the mid portion of the shelf member and progressively decreases in height at 60 adjacent the two ends so as to merge with the side edges 44. This provides a strut action to better support the, mid portion of the shelf and to take up stresses imposed on the outboard portion thereof. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the hooks and 32 are also formed with short supporting strut ribs 62 and 64 which merge with surfaces 42 to impart stability to the structure.

Channels 66 and 68 are formed by the respective spaced ribs 52-54 and 48-50 for receipt of the angle braces '76. Interlocking means 70-72 for the braces 76 are formed in the longitudinal rib 58 where the rib traverses the respective channels 66 and 68. The interlocking portion formed on member 20 is in the form of a slight bulbous enlargement '74 of the rib 58 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. This bulbous portion 74 connects with the keyhole slot 92 on member '76 with a snap-on action as shall be explained. H

The angle braces 76 have an overall triangular appearance as shown in FIG. 8 being formed with an enlarged panel engaging portion 78 and a pair of hook portions 80 and 82. The upper hook 80 is curvilinear throughout its entire extent whereas the lower hook 82 has a generally wedge shaped appearance. The upper hook member 80 is preferably dimensioned so that the extreme tip thereof is offset from the plane of surface 78 by a dimension less than the thickness of the panel to which the angle brace 75 is to be attached. The upper hook member as is inserted first, the lower hook member being then rotated intothe aperture spaced below the upper hook member 83, the 1 upper portion of the hook 82 flexing downwardly until it can snap into supporting engagement with the upper portion of the panel aperture to lock the brace member 76 firmly to the panel board. The spacing between the upper hook 3G and lower hook 82 is such that hook 8i) is kept in tension as is hook 82 to provide a very stable mounting of the brace 76. The surface 78, due to the width thereof, and due to the aforementioned stresses on the hook members, firmly engages the planar surface of the panel and provides good stability to the outboard end 8% of the support to provide good lateral, rack and vertical stability to the brace 76.

Surface 78 junctures with top surface 84 which is adapted to engage the web 42 in the grooves 68 and 66. The top surface 84 supports the shelf member 29 and has a length which preferably extends beyond the longitudinal strut member 53. The third angular surface 86 joins surfaces 78 and 84, the latter being joined at the outboard tip 88. The outboard end 88 is preferably thickened, and interlock means 92 is located a short distance inwardly from end 88 on surface 84. The interlock means 92 on a pair of braces 76 are adapted to receive the interlock means 70-72 of support member 2t and each is in the form of a keyhole slot 94 having chamfered or beveled edges 96 at the entry thereof. The keyhole slot receives the bulbous portion 74 to lock the brace member 76 with surface $4 in snug engagement with the bottom webs of the channels 66-68. To add further rigidity to the brace member 76, the portions 78, 84 and 86 are formed with an inwardly extending thin web portion 9% which structurally supports the interior of the triangular member.

To assemble the shelf to the panel board, the members 76 are interfitted in the channels 68-56 in a pre-assembly step so that they are positioned as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The assembly is then placed in a position similar to that shown in FIG. 1, tilted upwardly with the hooks and 36-32 all being inserted simultaneously into spaced aper= tures. The entire assembly is then rotated downwardly to cause the hooks 82 to be inserted in lower apertures and to flex and lock the assembly in its assembled position as shown in FIG. 3. Alternately, the brace meme bers 76 are assembled to panel 34 first and then the shelf 26 is assembled into interlocking relation with the braces. The assembled 18, shown in FIG. 3, is aesthetically pleasing and it will be noted it is assembled without the use of any rivets, screws or bolts or the like.

An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and I2 and similar parts shall be identified with similar reference numerals with the addition of the sufiix a. As shown in FIG. 10, the shelf member Zila is substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 4 except that an additional hook member 98 has been added adjacent the outboard side edge and the channel 680! is formed with inturned lips 18 6-102 as shown in FIG. 12. The nose portion 88a of brace member 7611 has been modified to provide a T-shaped in cross section appearance so as to be insertable underneath the. inturned edges Hill-192 of channel 680. The length of surface 84a may be made to suit and may, if desired, extend almost to the front edge 24a of member 20a. The nose portion 88a is inserted from adjacent the back edge of the channel and forms an interlocking connection coextensive the length of the brace for interlocking the brace members 764: with the shelf member 20a.

Still another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 13 and similar parts will be identified with similar reference numerals with the addition of the sutfix b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the channel portion 68b is formed with a rearwardly extending hook portion 106 which cooperates with a modified nose portion 88b of the brace member 765 to provide an alternate form of interlock between the shelf member 2% and the support member 7615.

Still another embodiment illustrating a different form of interlock is shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 and similar parts will be identified with similar reference numerals with the addition of the suffix c. The support member 76c is fromed with a plurality of upstanding oppositely alternately disposed finger members 110-112 having inturned edges which define a channel therebetween. The shelf member Zilc is formed with an upside down T-shaped rib 114 with which the fingers 110-112 interfit as shown in FIG. 16. The fingers 116-112 are kept from spreading by the sides 4tlc-5tlc of the channel thus assuring that unauthorized disassembly does not occur.

Although various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is with full awareness that many modifications are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as in necessitated by the prior art and the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An assembly for quick attachable connection to a perforated support panel comprising a shelf member having a substantially planar top surface and front and an oppositely disposed panel engaging surface, hook means integral with said shelf member and insertable in an aperture of said perforated support panel to engage a rear surface thereof, brace means formed of substantially the same material as said shelf member and engageable with the underside thereof, said brace means having hook means for insertion with an aperture of the panel support member, said brace means further having interlock means for quick interlocking attachment to said shelf member, said shelf member and said brace means, when attached Without additional fastening means to said panel, providing a stable shelf assembly.

2. A plastic shelf assembly for quick attachable connection :to a perforated support board comprising a generally rectilinear shelf member having top, bottom, front, back and side edges, a pair of hook members integrally formed into said shelf member in association with the back edge thereof, said hook members being symmetrically spaced from the transverse center line of said shelf member, a pair of brace members, each of said brace members being formed with interlock means for quick snap-on attachment to the bottom side of said shelf memg ber, said brace members being respectively located outboard of said hook members, each of said brace members being formed with upper and lower hook means, said upper hook means being disposed substantially coplanar with said hook members of said shelf member, said shelf and brace members being adapted to be assembled as a unit to said perforated support board whereby said lower hooks on said brace member and said interlock of said brace members to the underside of said shelf member prevents said shelf from being tipped upwardly or laterally after assembly thereof to a support board.

3. The assembly set forth in claim 2 wherein said brace members are essentially triangular in side elevational view, one leg of the triangle being adapted to engage the under surface of said shelf.

4. The assembly set forth in claim 3 wherein said brace member is formed with an enlarged panel engaging surface disposed substantially transverse to the planar upper surface of said shelf to thereby impart resistance to a racking action on said shelf assembly.

5. The assembly set forth in claim 4 wherein said planar surface is formed with a raised lip which projects above said planar surface adjacent the front edge of said shelf.

6. The assembly set forth in claim 5 wherein the undersurface of said shelf member is formed with a pair of spaced channels, each of said channels containing an interlock means cooperable with the interlock means on said brace members, each of said channels defining an area for supporting receipt of said brace member.

7. The assembly set forth in claim 6 wherein the bottom side of said shelf member is formed with a longitudinally extending rib, said longitudinally extending rib traversing said channels, said longitudinal extending rib where it crosses said channels being formed with an enlarged bulbous portion, said brace means, in the top surfaces thereof, being formed with a keyhole shaped slot means for quick snap-on connection with said bulbous portions of said transverse rib means.

8. The assembly set forth in claim 7 wherein said shelf member is formed with curvilinear outboard corners and the edge portions thereof are formed with thickened rim portions to give strength and rigidity to said planar top surface.

9. The assembly set forth in claim 8 wherein said upper and lower hook means of said brace members are configured relative to the thickness of said support panel so that after attachment to the panel, they are maintained in resilient stressed condition to maintain the shelf assembly in stable relation to said panel support.

10. The assembly set forth in claim 6 wherein one of said shelf member channels and said brace member is formed with a T-shaped cross section portion for cooperation with a complementary formed recess in the other member.

11. The assembly set forth in claim 6 wherein said shelf is formed with a rearwardly extending integral hook portion on the bottom surface thereof for engagement with a complementary formed surface in said brace member.

12. A shelf assembly formed of plastic for quick attachable connection to a perforated support panel comprising shelf means having a top surface and a panel engaging surface, means integral wi-th said shelf member for attaching said shelf member to said perforated support panel, brace means engageable with said shelf member in supporting relation thereto, said brace means having means integral therewith for attachment thereof to said panel support member, said brace means further having interlock means for quick interlocking attachment to said shelf member, said shelf member and said brace means when attached without additional fastening means to said 'panel, providing a stable shelf assembly.

13. An assembly formed of plastic for quick attachable connection to a perforated support panel comprising a shelf member having a substantially planar top surface and front and oppositely disposed panel engaging surface, hook means integral with said shelf member and insertable in an aperture of said perforated support panel to engage a rear surface thereof, connecting means formed on a bottom portion of said shelf member spaced outwardly from said panel engaging surface, brace means formed of substantially the same material as said shelf member and engageable with the underside thereof, said brace means having hook means for insertion within an aperture of the panel support member, said brace means further having interlock means for quick interlocking attachment to said connecting means of said shelf member, said shelf member and said brace means when attached without additional fastening means to said panel, providing a stable shelf assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,534,952 12/50 Comer 248243 2,783,961 3/57 Weber 248243 2,833,420 5/58 Streater -i- 108-452 X 2,900,085 8/59 Levy 108-110 X 2,912,119 11/59 Robinson 10s 144 2,940,601 6/60 Smith -108152 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ASSEMBLY FOR QUICK ATTACHABLE CONNECTION TO A PERFORATED SUPPORT PANEL COMPRISING A SHELF MEMBER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR TOP SURFACE AND FRONT AND ON OPPOSITELY DISPOSED PANEL ENGAGING SURFACE, HOOK MEANS INTEGRAL WITH SAID SHELF MEMBER AND INSERTABLE IN AN APERTURE OF SAID PERFORATED SUPPORT PANEL TO ENGAGE A REAR SURFACE THEREOF, BRACE MEANS FORMED OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME MATERIAL AS SAID SHELF MEMBER AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE UNDERSIDE THEREOF, SAID BRACE MEANS HAVING HOOK MEANS FOR INSERTION WITH AN APERTURE OF THE PANEL SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID BRACE MEANS FURTHER HAVING INTERLOCK 